Full list of Birmingham property sales as ‘broke’ city council scrabble to cash in on assets

February 8, 2025

2 minutes read

Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council sold five properties for more than £800,000 in around 30-minutes yesterday, Thursday, February 7. The firesale comes as commissioners overseeing the beleaguered authority ordered it to bank a total of £1 billion by the end of 2026.

Revenue is needed to plug enormous funding gaps, pay for services, redundancy pay-offs and settle equal pay claims. The council has a number of assets under its property portfolio.

And some of these properties were sold during an auction by Bond Wolfe. One of the most profitable lots was the former Merrishaw Children’s Centre, on Merrishaw Road in Northfield.

READ MORE: Birmingham City Council ordered to sell more assets amid £1 billion demand

It had a guide price of £200,000-plus, but the vacant freehold property, which may be suitable for redevelopment, eventually sold for well over that figure at £351,000. It was the lot which generated the most interest from the council’s seven properties on the day.

Industrial land and premises were sold at 92 and 94 Cato Street, Nechells. The properties sold for £50,000 and £57,000 respectively.

While a pair of three-bedroomed homes owned by the council was also snapped up. A semi-detached home on Netherdale Road in Hollywood, went for £125,000. And another at 65 Chilcote Close, in Hall Green, sold for £224,000.

A lot featuring land next to 79 Belchers Lane in Saltley was withdrawn by the city council before the auction started. While vacant freehold land at the Site Fronting, The Fordrough, in Northfield, reached a highest bid of £199,500 – just £500 short of the £200,000 plus guide price needed.

It is not clear if these lots will return to the auction later this year. In total sales amounted to £809,000.